The Growth-Minded CFO

Being great with numbers may open the door—but it’s your emotional intelligence that keeps you in the room.

In this episode, Erik Nakamura—CFO of Journal Technologies—joins hosts Lauren Pearl and Alex Louisy to explore how emotional intelligence (EQ) is transforming the modern CFO role from number cruncher to strategic business partner.

With 25+ years of experience across startups, public companies, IPOs, and CFO consulting, Erik sha...

In this episode of The Growth-Minded CFO, we’re joined by Anne Samak de la Cerda, Partner at FLG Partners, for a deep dive into the rise of fractional CFOs.

With two seasoned fractional CFOs on the mic (our co-host Lauren Pearl included) we explore how the role has evolved, when it makes sense to hire one, and what early vs late-stage companies actually need from finance leadership.

You’ll learn:

• Why not every company needs a full...

Bringing on a CFO is one of the most critical decisions a startup can make—but how do you know when it’s the right time? And more importantly, how do you find someone with the right skills to drive growth, manage complexity, and scale alongside your company?

In this episode of The Growth Minded CFO, hosts Alex and Lauren sit down with Dav Masaon, Co-Founder of executive search firm Zanda, to explore what it really takes to hire the ...

In this episode of The Growth-Minded CFO, co-hosts Lauren Pearl and Alex Louisy sit down with Nicolas Boucher, finance professional turned AI educator, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the world of corporate finance.

When ChatGPT first launched, most attention went to marketing and content creation. But Nicolas saw something different. He became one of the earliest voices in applying AI to finance—eventually bu...

The path to becoming a CFO today is rarely a straight line. Finance leaders are increasingly coming from diverse backgrounds, bringing a broad range of skills to the role. After all, the best CFOs don’t just manage numbers; they shape strategy, foster talent, and drive innovation across an organization.

In this episode of The Growth-Minded CFO, hosts Lauren and Alex sit down with Kate Gulliver, CFO and CAO of Wayfair.

It's an insight...

What does it take to be a truly great CFO today?

It’s not just about balancing the books—it’s about driving strategy, managing risks, and telling the financial story in a way that inspires confidence.

In this episode, Carla Cooper, CFO of Contentful, shares her journey from Wall Street equity analyst to CFO, discussing her role in scaling Contentful, navigating IPOs and acquisitions, and offering valuable tips on transitioning into...

Finance teams are drowning in data—but turning it into clear, strategic insights is the real challenge.

In this episode of The Growth-Minded CFO, hosts Lauren and Alex sit down with Gabi Steele, CEO and Co-founder of Preql (and formerly Head of Data Visualization Engineering at WeWork), to explore how CFOs can build a rock-solid data foundation, harness AI effectively, and lead with confidence in an AI-powered world.

Gabi shares why ...

Great CFOs do more than manage the numbers—they lead, adapt, and shape the future of their organizations. In this episode, Ilana Esterrich, CFO of Planned Parenthood, shares how she steers her team through uncertainty and change while keeping a sharp focus on strategy and leadership.

With a background in the military, Ilana brings a unique perspective on building strong teams, fostering a growth mindset, and navigating the shifting ...

In this episode, we reflect on the first season of the podcast. We discuss what we learned from the first 7 episodes featuring top CFOs and finance leaders.

As you listen, feel free to pause this episode and jump into the earlier episodes we highlight - our aim here is to give you a good overview of the best bits from the podcast so far!

Key highlights include the importance of getting out of the finance office, the value of start...

In this episode of the Growth Minded CFO podcast, hosts Lauren Pearl and Alex Louisy speak with Carl Seidman, an industry-leading finance educator and consultant.

Carl talks through his professional journey from Big Four consulting to establishing his own successful practice focused on FP& A processes and upskilling teams.

The discussion then focuses into the evolving role of finance professionals, emphasizing the importance ...

In this episode of 'The Growth Minded CFO,' hosts Lauren and Alex welcome Howard Katzenberg, CEO of Glean.ai. With our co-host Alex Louisy representing the world of Accounts Receivable, Howard brings the other side of the coin with Accounts Payable, as they both discuss what innovative approaches to these seemingly transactional processes can do for your business. Howard shares his transition from CFO to founder, the importance ...

In this episode of The Growth Minded CFO, we dive deep with Tatia Mays-Russell, the visionary CFO of the Major League Baseball Players Association.

Discover how Tatia's unique journey from a material science engineer to a strategic finance leader has shaped her approach to business. Learn about her strategies for transforming the finance function into a strategic partner, empowering her team, and leveraging technology to drive inno...

In this episode of 'The Growth Minded CFO,' hosts Lauren and Alex welcome Charly Kevers, CFO of Carta. Charly has served as CFO through some of the highest growth phases of Carta's journey - seeing them go from Series B to G in his 7 years there. Charly shares insights on the evolving role of the CFO, focusing on profitable growth, employee retention, and operational excellence. He also discusses Carta's strategic initiatives,...

Lauren and Alex sit down with Nick Wijnberg, a former Wall Street banker turned CFO and partner at Lorimer Ventures.

Nick shares his journey from high school investor to equity derivatives trader, structured credit specialist, commercial banker, and ultimately a company builder.

He discusses the importance of understanding investments and the VC ecosystem, the return on investment (ROI) required in early-stage startups, and the e...

In this episode, hosts Lauren and Alex sit down with Chris Ortega, the CEO and founder of Fresh FP&A.

Chris shares his inspiring career journey, from his early passion for finance to roles at Ernst & Young and leadership positions in fast growing software and pharmaceutical companies.

He discusses the foundation and philosophy behind Fresh FP&A, highlighting its focus on being Financial Partners and Advisors - and why...

In this episode of The Growth Minded CFO, hosts Lauren and Alex speak with Rita Kale, a seasoned CFO with experience in global firms like Roche and New York-based biotech startups. The conversation delves into the evolving role of the CFO, emphasizing the importance of understanding and engaging with business processes beyond traditional financial functions. Rita shares her unique journey from international finance roles to lead...

Get the lowdown on what our new podcast is about in this introductory episode.

Forget the dusty stereotype of the CFO sitting in the corner, chained to a spreadsheet. Today's financial leader is a growth architect and a strategic partner in the organization’s success.

The Growth-Minded CFO podcast aims to challenge the status-quo and smash the ‘back-office shackles’. Hosts Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO, 3-time Founder and Startup Fi...